A breath of fresh air with the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo
27 Apr 2018|22,798 views
It's always easy to say that I can't achieve anything because I'm not well-liked or I'm not as popular as my peers. But that's really just a cowardly attitude.
Fact is everyone can be as well-liked as chicken rice. We just need to be at the right place, at the right time, with the right mindset, to get things going. And that is exactly how it is for the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo (GT).
After spending over 72 hours in a scenic country such as New Zealand with this car, we have come to realise just how practical and perhaps almost perfect this car can actually be to live with. It may be a car that's targeted at a niche audience, but that doesn't mean it can't be the kind of car for the masses.
The 6 Series GT is the sort of car for the sort of quirky yet enthusiastic drivers who knows what they're getting themselves into without being afraid of how they are being judged by casual and mainstream observers. More importantly, it deserves a lot more credit than it should actually be getting.
Here are five reasons why...
Measuring 5,091mm long, 1,902mm wide and 1,538mm tall, the 6 Series GT is actually the perfect combination of the 6 Series' good looks and the strong road presence of the flagship 7 Series. You could even argue that most will know just how spacious this car actually is just by looking at it, thanks to its sizeable dimensions and muscular proportions.
And most wouldn't be wrong. With a generous wheelbase of over three metres, space is the royal order for the day. You can easily ferry three full-sized adults at the rear, with sufficient head, leg and shoulder room. And of course, all their belongings will be nicely placed at the 640-litre boot space - an area that can also be increased to a whopping 1,800 litres with the rear benches knocked down.
The 640i xDrive M Sport variant, which we drove during our time in New Zealand, sends a generous helping of 335bhp and 450Nm of twisting force to all four wheels instantaneously and delightfully. With all that figures at the beck and call of your right foot, there's a need to ascertain some self-control at the wheel, especially when long stretches of roads are clear and winding.
If self-control isn't really your thing, as it's also not our forte, floor the 6GT and it'll hurtle down road past slower-moving vehicles in a flash. Before you know it, you're past the 170km/h mark, and all the picturesque view around you that's so commonly associated with New Zealand becomes a complete blur. Not surprising at all, since the car takes merely 5.3 seconds to smash the century sprint.
Fast cars doesn't necessarily mean it's fun. In the case of the 6 Series GT, being a sizeable car doesn't mean it's clumsy. In fact, the car behaves quite the opposite. Whatever engineering wizardry that's been done to car is certainly working well because the Bimmer displays none of the blunders and loose body control that a car of its size probably will.
While straight empty roads are excellent meals for the car, long and winding roads are actually right up its alley. Thanks to its talkative steering and taut body control, the car dances like a professional ballerina on the twisties that will entertain even the most demanding critic. You could even be a cheeky monkey and do a sudden full throttle acceleration on the gravel just to have the 6GT's tail kickout in style.
It can be a frustrating experience when you're being questioned about your choice of car. Naysayers will tell you you're way behind the bell curve or how the car is just not suited to your size and/or personality. Just remember they're saying these not because they're being a good and honest friend. It's more like because they hate the fact that you're driving something they could have had but just didn't have the courage to get one because the size of their testicles is smaller than a macadamia nut.
Good thing is, when you get a niche car like the 6 Series GT, it teaches you to appreciate an understated machine. It teaches you to think out of the box. It teaches you to be brave.
Seriously, look at it! Just take a second and look at how attractive this car really is. There's not one bit of Italian flair, I'll tell you that, but it sure wouldn't fail at a beauty contest, that's for sure. It's proportions are neither as bulbous as the BMW 5 Series GT, nor is it as tiring to look at as a Honda HR-V. But it has a timeless design and an instantly recognisable face that will not fade in decades to come.
Oh, and have I mentioned the luxurious cabin yet? With its leather-swathed cabin, plush seats and user-friendly iDrive infotainment interface, it's hard not to think about the 6GT as the car to live with on a daily basis. Do we crave for one? You bet your bottom we do.
It's always easy to say that I can't achieve anything because I'm not well-liked or I'm not as popular as my peers. But that's really just a cowardly attitude.
Fact is everyone can be as well-liked as chicken rice. We just need to be at the right place, at the right time, with the right mindset, to get things going. And that is exactly how it is for the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo (GT).
After spending over 72 hours in a scenic country such as New Zealand with this car, we have come to realise just how practical and perhaps almost perfect this car can actually be to live with. It may be a car that's targeted at a niche audience, but that doesn't mean it can't be the kind of car for the masses.
The 6 Series GT is the sort of car for the sort of quirky yet enthusiastic drivers who knows what they're getting themselves into without being afraid of how they are being judged by casual and mainstream observers. More importantly, it deserves a lot more credit than it should actually be getting.
Here are five reasons why...
1. Space
Measuring 5,091mm long, 1,902mm wide and 1,538mm tall, the 6 Series GT is actually the perfect combination of the 6 Series' good looks and the strong road presence of the flagship 7 Series. You could even argue that most will know just how spacious this car actually is just by looking at it, thanks to its sizeable dimensions and muscular proportions.
And most wouldn't be wrong. With a generous wheelbase of over three metres, space is the royal order for the day. You can easily ferry three full-sized adults at the rear, with sufficient head, leg and shoulder room. And of course, all their belongings will be nicely placed at the 640-litre boot space - an area that can also be increased to a whopping 1,800 litres with the rear benches knocked down.
2. Pace
The 640i xDrive M Sport variant, which we drove during our time in New Zealand, sends a generous helping of 335bhp and 450Nm of twisting force to all four wheels instantaneously and delightfully. With all that figures at the beck and call of your right foot, there's a need to ascertain some self-control at the wheel, especially when long stretches of roads are clear and winding.
If self-control isn't really your thing, as it's also not our forte, floor the 6GT and it'll hurtle down road past slower-moving vehicles in a flash. Before you know it, you're past the 170km/h mark, and all the picturesque view around you that's so commonly associated with New Zealand becomes a complete blur. Not surprising at all, since the car takes merely 5.3 seconds to smash the century sprint.
3. Grace
Fast cars doesn't necessarily mean it's fun. In the case of the 6 Series GT, being a sizeable car doesn't mean it's clumsy. In fact, the car behaves quite the opposite. Whatever engineering wizardry that's been done to car is certainly working well because the Bimmer displays none of the blunders and loose body control that a car of its size probably will.
While straight empty roads are excellent meals for the car, long and winding roads are actually right up its alley. Thanks to its talkative steering and taut body control, the car dances like a professional ballerina on the twisties that will entertain even the most demanding critic. You could even be a cheeky monkey and do a sudden full throttle acceleration on the gravel just to have the 6GT's tail kickout in style.
4. Brave
It can be a frustrating experience when you're being questioned about your choice of car. Naysayers will tell you you're way behind the bell curve or how the car is just not suited to your size and/or personality. Just remember they're saying these not because they're being a good and honest friend. It's more like because they hate the fact that you're driving something they could have had but just didn't have the courage to get one because the size of their testicles is smaller than a macadamia nut.
Good thing is, when you get a niche car like the 6 Series GT, it teaches you to appreciate an understated machine. It teaches you to think out of the box. It teaches you to be brave.
5. Crave
Seriously, look at it! Just take a second and look at how attractive this car really is. There's not one bit of Italian flair, I'll tell you that, but it sure wouldn't fail at a beauty contest, that's for sure. It's proportions are neither as bulbous as the BMW 5 Series GT, nor is it as tiring to look at as a Honda HR-V. But it has a timeless design and an instantly recognisable face that will not fade in decades to come.
Oh, and have I mentioned the luxurious cabin yet? With its leather-swathed cabin, plush seats and user-friendly iDrive infotainment interface, it's hard not to think about the 6GT as the car to live with on a daily basis. Do we crave for one? You bet your bottom we do.
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